Aircraft.



R. A. HIGGINS.

AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-26.19I-

Patented July 9,1918.

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AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.26. I9I7.

1 ,27 1,896..y Patented July 9, 1918.

l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@MW/755m ROBERT A. HIGGINS, 0F HENDERSON, COLORADO.

AIRCRAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, i918.

Application filed November 26, 1917. Serial No. 203,940.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Henderson, county of' Adams, and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aircraft; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to produce an air craft of superior flying qualities requiring fewer and simpler details of construction than those used heretofore.

Briefly the invention comprises a cylinder having two parts between which there is located a rotatable section having a plurality of fan `blades mounted on its interior by means of which air is drawn into the front end of one part of the cylinder and forced out of the rear end of. the other part of the i cylinder, there being. suitable means to elevate and guide the machine.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4.

' Fig. 2 is a section indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the internal construction of the rotatable section and its connections.

Fig .3 is across section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The chief feature of the invention is a cylinder having a forward portion 5 and a. rear portion 6 between which is mounted a rotatable segment 7. The cylinder portions 5 and 6 have braced flanges 8 to which are connected glands 9. The rotatable section 7 has a flange 10 at each end between which and the portion 12 of the gland the balls 13 are placed to provide suitable bearings.l These parts are 'properly positioned by means of spacing rods 14: having nuts 15 thereon.

The exterior of the section 7 1s slightly convex as shown, and around the interior wall at the point of greatest diameter a plurality of inclined radially extending fan blades 16 are positioned, their outer ends being secured to the wall. A small space is left between the inner ends of the blades so that the tendency of the air passing through is to work toward the center instead of toward the walls.

The cylinder sections 5 and 6 carry frame work 20 which supports a gas tight envelop 21. From the lower part of the frame work a carriage 22 is suspended in which all controlling apparatus and a motor 23 or other source o f power is mounted. A belt 24 or other suitable means transmits power from the motor to the rotatable section 7.

On the rear end of the cylinder section 6 are mounted the rudders 26 which are controlled by wires 27 running to the car 22. The rudders 26 are divided so as not to interfere with the passage of air from the cyl- 1n er.

On the frontcylinder section 5 horizontal The envelop is designed to be lled with a light gas and is to be of just suiiicient size to handle the .dead weight of the machine. It is contemplated, however, to omit the envelopy entirely under certain conditions.

In operation the planes or wings will cause the machine to rise or descend as desired, while the envelop will take up the dead weight, when used, enabling all of the power to be used for speed. The fan blades will force the air to the rear of the cylinder and draw it in from the forward end, the machine being propelled forward as a result of the displacement, as will be obvious. Of course, the speed of the rotatable section' must be high and will require a suitable power plant and gearing system, that shown being merely diagrammatic.

What I claim 1s:

1. In an aircraft, a cylinder extending longitudinally of the craft and having a rotatable rdriven section having fan blades secured to its inner walls the exterior walls of said section being adapted for engagement with driving means.

2. In an aircraft, a cylinder extending longitudinally of the craft and having a rotatable driven section having fan blades secured to its inner walls, a frame work carried by the cylinder and an envelop supported by the frame work.

3. In an aircraft, a cylinder extending longitudinally of the craft and having a rotatable driven section having fan blades secured to its inner walls, and horizontal planes or wings carried by the cylinder.

4. In an aircraft, a cylinder extending longitudinally of the craft and having a rotatable driven section having fan blades secured to its inner walls, a framework carried by the cylinder, an envelop supportedl by the framework, and horizontal planes carried by the cylinder.

5. In an aircraft, a hollow member comprising two relatively stationary parts, a rotatable cylindrical section located between the parts having fan blades secured to its inner walls, said section being adapted to be power driven and having means on its outer walls for engagement with driving means..

6. An aircraft yequipped with an open ended tube khaving a rotatable section within which section is located a propeller having an open center, the propeller being arranged `to forcevthe air rearwardly through the tube.

7 An aircraft equipped with an open ended tube having a rotatable section within which section is located a propeller having an open center, the propeller comprising inwardly extending radial fan blades arranged to force the air rearwardly through the tube. r

8. An aircraft equipped with an open ended tube having a rotatable section within which section is located a propeller having an open center, the propeller comprising inwardly extending radial fan blades yarranged to force the air rearwardly through the tube, the interior of said tube being free of air-resisting obstructions other than said radial blades.

9. In an aircraft, a longitudinally extending cylinder having a rotatable driven section, means located withinv the section for forcing air through the tube, and means on the exterior walls of said section adapted for engagement with driving means.

10. In an aircraft, a longitudinally extending cylinder having a rotatable driven section, a propeller located within the section for creating a partial vacuum forward of said propeller and compressing the air in the rear thereof, and means on the outer walls of said section for engagement with driving means.

11. A propelling device comprising an open ended tube having a rotatable section, a propeller having an open center and located within said section, the propeller being arranged to force air rearwardly through the tube.

12. A propelling device comprising an open ended tube having a rotatable driven section, means located within the section for forcing air through the tube, `and means on the exteriorwalls of said section adapted to be engaged by driving means.

In testimony wheref I affix my signature.

ROBERT A. HIGGINS. 

